The Mayflower Council remains committed to and focused on providing a safe environment for our employees, Scouts, Scouters, and volunteers. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have repeatedly taken practical steps and implemented robust measures to ensure the welfare of all which has enabled us to safely run programs over the last two years.

Due to the increase in prevalence of COVID-19 in our communities, Mayflower Council is restating the following guidelines, already in effect as of September 23, 2021.

General Guidance

  • Vaccines are strongly recommended for all who are eligible.
  • It is the policy of the council that face coverings will be worn by everyone in attendance during meetings or other indoor events. This applies to every person, youth and adult, vaccinated and unvaccinated.
  • Face coverings should not be worn in or near water, while actively eating or drinking, or while sleeping. Proper social distancing should be maintained in those circumstances.
  • Each member should “Be Prepared” and have an ample amount of clean and dry face masks available to wear.
  • Units and members must follow any additional guidelines imposed by local municipalities or health departments, building operators, or chartered organizations.
  • The Mayflower Council “Model Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist” has been updated, effective January 5, 2022. Everyone should use this checklist prior to beginning each meeting or activity.
  • Unit leaders must report, within 12 hours, confirmed or strongly suspected cases of any communicable disease infections, including COVID-19, occurring during or within 48 hours after a unit meeting or activity, to incidentreport@mayflowerbsa.org using the incident report forms. Unit leaders are also required to promptly notify adult leaders and parents of all Scouts who participated in the activity, as well as the unit’s chartered organization representative. Additional guidance on reporting is available here.

Unit Camping Guidance

  • Cabins continue to be available for program use by units.
  • Mayflower Council strongly advises against group (congregate) sleeping inside cabins or other indoor locations. We recommend that unit overnight camping be limited to tent and lean-to sites.
  • Face coverings will be worn by everyone when indoors. This applies to every person, youth and adult, vaccinated and unvaccinated.
  • While it is recommended to sleep one person per tent, it is acceptable to camp with a maximum of two people per tent. Parental permission should be obtained by the unit leader for any youth members sharing a tent.
  • When sharing a tent or lean-to, individuals should sleep no closer than 6 feet from one another. Individuals sleeping next to one another or in bunk beds should be arranged to sleep head-to-toe.

Transportation
While traveling in a vehicle to an outing or activity, face covering use is required. It is also recommended that windows are at least partially open to increase airflow and air exchange and air intake is in non-circulating mode.

Council Service Center
Face coverings are required for all visitors, including those who are vaccinated, in shared public areas: meeting rooms, hallways, etc.

As always, if you or someone in your family is experiencing symptoms of illness, refrain from attending any Scouting meetings or activities. Please continue to wash your hands and practice good hygiene at all times.

A Scout is Helpful. Let’s work together to make sure that Scouting does its part to avoid contributing to an overloaded health care system.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary. In the meantime, all events on the calendar will continue as planned with the above guidance in addition to our guidelines and protocols. Any information about cancelations or postponements of events will be sent to those signed up as soon as it is available.

The above are simply highlights of our COVID-19 guidelines; review the complete Mayflower Council COVID-19 Program Reopening Guidelines here.